Chapter 28: Hard Currency, Marching North! [Please add to collections and recommend]

Zong Shen was already very satisfied with the output of the Moon Well.

In addition, the Moon Well possessed a skill called "Spring of the Moon Well."

Once activated, it would last for five hours, increasing the Moon Well's output by 520% and raising its maximum capacity.

This meant it could produce a maximum of 260ml of Moon Spring Water per hour.

Seeing how much demand there was for the Moon Spring Water now, Zong Shen directly activated "Spring of the Moon Well" to rapidly increase the Moon Well's production.

After finishing this, Zong Shen returned to the side of the [Market].

He began to continue negotiating prices.

The next item was a special quest item.

[Swadian Knight Trial Badge]

[Use to initiate the Swadian Trial]

[Success in the trial grants the title of Knight of the Swadian Empire]

"A title?"

Zong Shen looked at the information provided for the badge.

It seemed this item was related to a certain indigenous faction.

However, its specific functions were currently unknown, as were the exact benefits one could obtain.

Furthermore, it required passing a trial.

It was essentially a tool for gambling on expectations.

After a round of haggling, Zong Shen successfully secured the badge for 80ml of [Tears of the Moon Goddess].

After extracting it through the [Market], Zong Shen toyed with the badge in his hand.

The pattern on it was a majestic steppe lion, standing atop a massive boulder with a lance thrust into it.

As Zong Shen gazed at the trial badge, strategy information immediately appeared.

(The Swadian Empire is a powerful empire located in the continental plains. The value of this badge is very high, but the difficulty of the trial is equally significant. Wait until you possess sufficient strength before attempting the trial.)

(As long as you pass the trial, you will become a Swadian Knight. At regular intervals, you will have the qualification to recruit a certain number of Swadian Heavy Cavalry.)

"It's a good item, but I probably won't be able to use it in the short term. I'll collect it for now."

Zong Shen instantly understood the value of the badge.

This was a key to opening up connections with indigenous factions.

To gradually develop on this continent, besides a Lord's own continuous construction, indigenous factions were also a crucial component.

Zong Shen tucked the badge into his personal storage slot to keep it safe.

Now, there was one last item that interested Zong Shen.

It was a construction blueprint.

[Tier 1 Elemental Arrow Tower Blueprint]

[Quality: Excellent (Green)]

[Requirements: Stone ×65, Iron ×30, Wood ×80, Hemp Rope ×12, Junior Elemental Crystals ×8]

[Construction Time: 6h 24m]

[Footprint: 10 sqm]

[Height: 12m]

[Range: 500m]

[Piercing Damage: 60–69]

[Attack Speed: 3s]

[Each attack has a 10% chance to deal 10 points of random elemental damage]

[Durability: 1500]

[Armor Value: 20]

This was a rare type of defensive structure.

Once built, it could guard the territory and attack any enemies within its range.

However, it required eight Junior Elemental Crystals.

Zong Shen currently only had two on hand.

After a round of bargaining, Zong Shen acquired the blueprint for 60ml of [Tears of the Moon Goddess].

A win-win situation!

At this moment, Zong Shen opened the [Market] again, intending to list three more portions of [Tears of the Moon Goddess], only to discover something startling.

There were several more people listing [Tears of the Moon Goddess] on the market...

Looking closely, the leader among the listings was none other than the Arab man who had previously exchanged a [Junior Heart of Strength] for 200ml of [Tears of the Moon Goddess]...

He had divided the [Tears of the Moon Goddess] into portions of 20ml each, exchanging each portion for 100 units of resources!

The other listings of [Tears of the Moon Goddess] on the market followed the same pattern.

"Good grief," Zong Shen muttered to himself.

It turned out these people were buying them for resale?

And with a single flip, the profit actually doubled!

In an instant, Zong Shen's Moon Spring Water had acquired the characteristics of a precious market equivalent.

It had turned into a "financial product."

Zong Shen was dumbfounded by this maneuver.

He shook his head and listed three more portions.

For one of them, he set the trading price at 999,999 Wood.

At this stage, no one could possibly afford such a price.

This single listing was purely used by Zong Shen as an advertisement.

He added a note below: "Buying all kinds of blueprints, special items, and materials. Send a private message with pictures. I won't reply to small talk."

Next, he listed two more 40ml portions of [Tears of the Moon Goddess].

The required trading price was 10 Junior Elemental Crystals.

Judging by the drop rates, Junior Elemental Crystals were much more precious than general resources.

He added a note below: "Split purchases available. Private message for details!"

Currently, the territory's resources were abundant, so there was no immediate need to use Moon Spring Water for exchanges.

The Moon Well belonged to a special Elven race architecture that had long since gone extinct. Unless someone else discovered Elven ruins, it was impossible for competitors to appear.

Not everyone was like Zong Shen, capable of discovering hidden opportunities through the strategy module.

After Zong Shen had been busy for a while, it became 6:00 AM.

Outside the territory, birds were chirping incessantly.

The sky was beginning to brighten.

Luna had woken up early.

Riding her black panther, she approached Zong Shen.

Zong Shen turned his head, a faint smile on his face.

Having passed his first night since arriving, he had become more adapted to the rhythm of this world.

No need to go to work, no need to earn money.

He only needed to continuously explore and build.

Of course, both shared a commonality.

That was survival!

"Won't you sleep a bit longer?" Zong Shen asked with concern.

Luna shook her head.

"As a warrior of the Moon Goddess, I do not require much sleep to recover my energy."

"Lord, do you have any plans for today?"

Zong Shen's gaze turned toward the north of the territory. Beyond the hundred-mile stretch of grasslands lay a continuous range of low mountains.

Hearing Luna's question, he merely looked ahead with a deep gaze and slowly uttered two words.

"Northward."

"Today's goal is to explore the north of the territory, especially that mountain forest."

Zong Shen pointed with his sword.

Luna seemed to sense Zong Shen's determination.

Then, Zong Shen continued.

"Luna, your task today is to guard the territory. I will take Tie Zhu northward to rendezvous with Colby first."

"You are responsible for supervising the farmers in their resource collection. Today's strategy is to gather all basic resources."

"At the same time, help me monitor the [Market] and protect the farmers and the Moon Spring Water."

Zong Shen gave his instructions and left ten pieces of fresh wolf meat.

He summoned Tie Zhu, who was now a Nord Shadow Assassin.

Mounting an old traveling horse, one holding a piece of whole wheat bread, they headed toward the north of the territory.

The one large and one small figures were stretched very long under the slant of the morning sun.